Trouble Installing Windows XP?

Question

I removed the 80GB hard drive from a dell inspiron tower and installed it into another computer system. every time i try to install windows , it stops during the part of installation where it says copying files to windows installation folders, when it gets to about 60% it says that the windows xp image copied to the hard drive is invalid and that there is a problem with windows xp installation disk. I returned the first three copies back to the store and finally decided that there wasn't a problem with the disk. So I then started with a process of elimination checking each possible scenario but everything checked out to be in working condition (CD-RW, RAM, VIDEO CARD, CPU, NETWORK ADAPTER) So then using fdisk i deleted the current partitions, created a new partition and then reformatted the drive but yet again I tried to install windows and it gave me the same stupid error after about 60% of the first part of the install. SO could it be that dell formatted this hard drive so that it cant boot/reformat/install into a non dell system? Any help to resolve this issue is greatly appreciated as i have already put more than 72 hours of time in trying to get this machine running for my cousin and her kids! Thanks in Advance!!!

Answer 1

don't delete the partitions but format the whole drive then make the partitions try use some other dvd-rw or whatever u r using to install xp thru

then do a complete clean install of windows xp select the partition u want to install in



well the above solution is enough

but i would recommend this if u have windows xp

if ur pc is able to boot to any window version(if already in ur pc) '

then while rebooting press f 8 to enter it safe mode then there u should run the xp cd as have the process will be done there by then only

Answer 2

It sounds like the drive itself. Sometimes even deleting partitions doesn't do anything. You'll need to run a dos error/disk checker to make absolutely sure.



Try on a different drive.



Or if you don't think it's the drive, also try changing out the ribbon and changing the port it's on.

Answer 3

there could be some thing else occurring, I even have put in/re-put in residing house windows on maximum of machines, from 3.11 to win7, that i won't manage to even start to count extensive variety and by no potential seen something like this. if the residing house windows set-up cd is soliciting for a password, it could not certainly be a certainly residing house windows set up cd, it won't do this, it relatively is a restoration cd produced from the residing house windows account of which you have not have been given the password. if it relatively is definitely a residing house windows cd, the two oem or retail, it has the capacity to thoroughly erase the excellent annoyingcontinual so a password isn't nec... greater ifno w/ greater specifics which you have confirmed will make it less complicated to help (do not propose for this to sound/look the way it does tho). you do not relatively p.c. to circulate into the bios (set up mode till now the cd plenty) with the intention to re-deploy residing house windows. the hyperlink earlier published approximately resetting the bios is a exceptional theory, even with the incontrovertible fact that, it relatively is not that straightforward on a workstation, in certainty, i've got by no potential seen it accomplished yet i'm particular it relatively is. you're able to have the capacity besides directly to the residing house windows cd the two by potential of a few keystroke, you'll be able to could circulate to the internet internet site of the producer for this, or it could by potential of default. be happy to ask/tell greater. btw, a bios flash is amazingly complicated and can be fowled up relatively, i does not attempt this w/o the help of a knowledgable person.